(UK) Belfast: Former elem school to become special school

June 30, 2025, BBC News: Van Morrison's former primary to become a special school

Sir Van Morrison's former primary school in east Belfast is set to become a special school campus.

Elmgrove school on the Beersbridge Road closed in 2024, with pupils and staff moving to a new building nearby.

The Beersbridge Road site is right beside "the hollow", made famous in Sir Van's song Brown Eyed Girl.

The former Elmgrove school building is now set to house pupils from Greenwood House special school in east Belfast from September 2026.

Greenwood House has announced plans to expand its pupil numbers by using Elmgrove as a dual campus alongside its existing site close to the Newtownards Road.

More special school places for Belfast

The Education Authority (EA) has said the school's move "will help the overall position" on school places.

Greenwood House currently has about 70 pupils aged between three and six, but its expansion proposal means the school plans to take pupils up to Primary 7.

It would mean, in the first instance, that a number of current P2 pupils could continue in Greenwood House rather than having to move school.

The Chief Executive of the EA, Richard Pengelly, recently called the shortfall of school places for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) a "crisis".

Belfast was identified as one of the areas where there was a particular pressure on school places.

Mr Pengelly said that some mainstream schools could be instructed to enrol more SEN pupils.

The chair of Greenwood House's governors Gary Forbes said the special school's move would help parents and pupils.

"This will mean that we can offer a place to children up to Primary 7, which gives parents a degree of comfort and assurance about their children's education and development," he told BBC News NI.

"It'll really help families, and we're also looking forward to expanding to use the old Elmgrove site."

"We want to thank officials from the Education Authority for their support," he added.

"The Board of Governors also want to pay tribute to our principal, Lorriane Thompson, and wonderful staff for all their hard work and dedication."